Biological activities of the essential oils of Cupressus macrocarpa, Lantana camara and Psidium littorale against Plasmodium falciparum welch, 1897 and Anopheles gambiae giles, 1902

Abstract

This study assessed the in vitro anti-plasmodial on and larvicidal activity of essential oils from the leaves of Cupressus macrocarpa, Lantana camara and Psidium littorale. The chemical compositions of the different oils were determined. The toxicity of the oils was tested on An. gambiae larvae according to WHO protocol and their in vitro anti-plasmodial activity was assessed by radio-isotopic method. α-pinene (20.78%), β-caryophyllene (20.37%) and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) (39.55%) were the major compounds in Cupressus macrocarpa, Lantana camara and Psidium littorale oils respectively. The in vitro anti-plasmodial activity showed that Lantana camara essential oil is more effective (IC50=12.34 ppm) than Cupressus macrocarpa (147.29 ppm) and Psidium littorale (115.45ppm). Essential oil of Lantana camara showed higher activity on larvae from Yassa (DL=7.37 ppm) while that of Psidium littorale was more active on larvae from Youpwe (DL=49.2 ppm). These oils can be used for the development of new biocides and natural anti-malarial drugs.